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I'm continually dismayed by the lack of visibility in modern vehicles. It seems like every new model year increases size and weight while decreasing visibility.
by dceddia 11y ago
I'm continually dismayed by the lack of visibility in modern vehicles. It seems like every new model year increases size and weight while decreasing visibility. Take a look at cars from the 90s, and notice how much of their upper body is glass versus pillars or whatever. I drove a 1995 VW Golf for a number of years -- that thing was like driving around in a glass bubble compared to cars made today.
Surely, safety concerns/regulations are partly to blame for bulkier pillars and body parts, but I get the feeling that manufacturers just aren't investing engineering dollars in better visibility.
- userbinator 11y agoAerodynamics (and thus fuel efficiency) could be another factor - even with the Volvos, compare the boxier 240/740/850 vs the later, more rounded models; the sloping curves are more aerodynamic but definitely make it harder to see exactly where the edges of the car are and what's around it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%2780-%2782_Volvo_240DL_Sedan.JPG https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%2780-%2782_Volvo_240DL_S... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2012_Volvo_S60_--_NHTSA_1.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2012_Volvo_S60_--_NHTSA_1...
- dceddia 11y agoFuel efficiency is another interesting stat that seems to not have improved much since the mid 90s. Tighter emissions standards are probably the reason, but it's funny to see new cars advertising "35mpg!" when 1995 VWs could pull that off easily.
- scrumper 11y agoI don't think you're right there at all. Taking your specific example, a '95 Golf got about 24mpg (combined cycle). Today, the 2 liter gasoline engine gets ~36 combined. That's despite the '95 golf having a curb weight of around 2,500lbs, and the 2015 being over 3,000lbs. Don't forget that since the '90s, European and USA crash safety legislation has caused very large increases in vehicle mass. Airbags, collapsing structures, side impact beams, rollover protection all are required now. And finally (though you didn't mention this), the crappy visibility of today's cars is directly as a result of increases in crash safety standards: poor visibility is a function of thick A, B, and C pillars; they are thicker today because cars have to stand up to more. Edit to add: This video shows a 50+ year old Chevy Bel Air in a head on, offset collision with a modern Chevrolet grey box. No analysis, and I'm not putting it here to add weight to any point, but it does show that we have made some progress. http://oppositelock.kinja.com/classic-car-vs-modern-car-safety-1642008672 http://oppositelock.kinja.com/classic-car-vs-modern-car-safe...
- fokz 11y agoI think visibility decreasing mostly stem from new bulky airbag system, especially that driver's side blind zone in front of the car. Making airbag system smaller seems hard. I wonder if having cameras and screens for all the blind spots would work.